children

News

Superintendent scolds majority of School Board over School Law Enforcement Advisory Group proposal

By James Cullum
Alexandria Police at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus. (staff photo by James Cullum)

“Extremely problematic,” “inappropriate,” and “disrespectful” was how Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr. said School Board members handled edits of his plan to create a School Law Enforcement Advisory Group.

In a March 9 email, Hutchings scolded a majority of School Board Members — Michelle Rief, Ashley Simpson-Baird, Adbel Elnoubi, Kelly Carmichael Booz and Chris Harris — for editing his SLEP proposal. He said that such “behind the scenes” operations raised transparency issues by violating the Virginia Freedom Of Information Act.

Go to Superintendent scolds majority of School Board over School Law Enforcement Advisory Group proposal Read more
News

Carlyle and Old Town hosting St. Patrick’s Day bar crawls

By James Cullum
Murphy's Grand Irish Pub at 713 King Street [Photo via Murphy's/Facebook)

Need to get your Irish on? While Alexandria’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been pushed off until September, there are two Irish-themed bar crawls coming to the city in the days ahead.

The Shamrock Stampede will descend on Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood on Saturday, March 12. Participating restaurants include Whiskey & Oyster, Sweet Fire Donna’s, Tequila & Taco, Lost Boy Cider and Joe Theismann’s Restaurant.

Go to Carlyle and Old Town hosting St. Patrick’s Day bar crawls Read more
News

There’s a ‘Goodnight Moon Room’ installation at the Torpedo Factory Art Center

By James Cullum
The Goodnight Moon Room at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town, Alexandria. (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated on Feb. 11) Fans of the “Goodnight Moon” classic children’s book are in for a treat, as there’s a new Goodnight Moon Room installation at the Torpedo Factory Art Center.

The project in Studio 9 is led by longtime Torpedo Factory artist Lisa Schumaier, who said she wants to give visitors a literary hug.

Go to There’s a ‘Goodnight Moon Room’ installation at the Torpedo Factory Art Center Read more
News

Alexandria City High School student Abdelraman Aboud Abdelsadig awarded QuestBridge Scholarship

By James Cullum

Earlier this month, Alexandria City High School senior Abdelraman Aboud Abdelsadig received life-changing news. After submitting all his paperwork and waiting a month, Abdelsadi was awarded the competitive QuestBridge Scholarship to attend Colby College in Maine.

The scholarship is worth about $300,000, and Abdelsadig found out about the award at school on Dec. 1.

Go to Alexandria City High School student Abdelraman Aboud Abdelsadig awarded QuestBridge Scholarship Read more
News

Alexandria Tutoring Consortium gets a $16K boost from AT&T

By James Cullum

The Alexandria Tutoring Consortium has chipped away at its $25,000 goal set in August, and can now offer literacy tutoring to students in 11 of the city’s 14 elementary schools for the remainder of the school year.

The most recent donation was made by the AT&T foundation for $16,000, which will help fund one-on-one “Book Buddies” tutoring sessions for 30 first graders at John Adams and Ferdinand T. Day Elementary Schools.

Go to Alexandria Tutoring Consortium gets a $16K boost from AT&T Read more
News

School Board District B candidate Ashley Simpson Baird says ACPS needs to focus on English-language learners

By James Cullum

Ashley Simpson Baird says widespread unfinished learning within the Latino community is a result of the pandemic, and the District B candidate for the Alexandria School Board wants the city’s school system to refocus its attention to get kids back on the ball.

“We are still very much living in schooling in a pandemic, and so I would really like to see ACPS have a stronger plan for how we’re addressing unfinished learning,” Baird told ALXnow. “We need to make sure that we are giving school leaders and educators the resources to implement that plan.”

Go to School Board District B candidate Ashley Simpson Baird says ACPS needs to focus on English-language learners Read more
News

Alexandria surpasses 14,000 cases of COVID-19, numbers of unvaccinated sick kids ‘unexpectedly’ high

By James Cullum
Kids playing near Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated at 425 p.m. Tuesday, October 19) Alexandria has reached yet another grim milestone, as the city surpassed 14,000 reported cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

As of today (Monday, October 18), the number of cases has climbed to 14,070, up 171 cases since this time last week.

Go to Alexandria surpasses 14,000 cases of COVID-19, numbers of unvaccinated sick kids ‘unexpectedly’ high Read more
News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum
Cyclists along the Mount Vernon Trail along the Potomac River near Belle Haven (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria announces $7.1 million in funding for first-time homebuyers — “The City of Alexandria is pleased to announce the availability of Sponsoring Partnerships & Revitalizing Communities (SPARC) funds to provide eligible first-time homebuyers with permanent financing for their home purchase. SPARC is a special allocation to local governments to reduce first trust mortgage interest rates.” [City of Alexandria]

Six ways to celebrate Oktoberfest in Alexandria — “Port City Brewing Company’s Hefeweizen brew is a Bavarian-style wheat hale pouring hazy golden with fluffy white foam, tinged with aromas of clove and spice with a softer note of ripe banana. Pick up a four-pack via curbside pickup or Port City On Demand, or sip at an outdoor table at the West End headquarters.” [Visit Alexandria]

Go to Morning Notes Read more
News

Police dispatched three times for fighting at Alexandria City Public Schools in less than a month

By James Cullum
Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police have been dispatched to Alexandria City Public Schools three times to respond to students fighting since school started on August 24.

The most recent incident occurred on Tuesday, September 14, just before 1 p.m. at the Alexandria City High School Minnie Howard campus at 3801 West Braddock Road. The student victim was not transported to the hospital.

Go to Police dispatched three times for fighting at Alexandria City Public Schools in less than a month Read more
News

Update: Missing Alexandria toddlers returned home to their mother

By James Cullum

(Updated at 8 p.m. on September 16) Alexandria Police are reporting that the toddlers have been returned to their mother.

“Thanks to the assistance of everyone in the community the toddlers have been returned safely to their rightful custodial parent,” police said on social media.

Go to Update: Missing Alexandria toddlers returned home to their mother Read more
View More Stories